State senator warns level of violence in Newark could 'blow up'

By MICHAEL PHILLIS

State House Bureau |

The Record

With escalating violence in some of New Jersey’s major cities last year, a state senator is worried that Newark could “blow up” if action isn't taken and reach a level of violence not seen since the 1967 race riots.

“I’m praying it doesn’t happen but we are back where we were back in the '60s,” said Sen. Ronald Rice, D-Newark, during a press conference Monday. “I know, because I was there.”

Rice wants a commission formed to study the causes of violence and what can be done about them in New Jersey. He is calling for a 40-member commission modeled on the 11-member Kerner Commission, which was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson and published its report in 1967. The Kerner Report detailed deeply flawed economic and racial issues in America.

“If you read the report, the same findings of the Kerner Commission in 1967 are applicable to New Jersey today,” Rice said.

Rice urged that more attention be paid to such inner-city issues as laid-off police officers, indifference to violence, prevalence of gangs and a lack of places for youths to go after school.

He said violence in Newark was comparable to rates of violence against American troops in Afghanistan. He said he was worried that when the weather warms up, violence will increase, as it often does.

Crime data recently released for 2012 showed that four cities in the state – Paterson, Camden, Newark and Trenton – were where more than half of New Jersey’s murders occur. Only 7 percent of the state’s population lives in those areas.

State senator warns level of violence in Newark could 'blow up'

By MICHAEL PHILLIS

State House Bureau |

The Record

With escalating violence in some of New Jersey’s major cities last year, a state senator is worried that Newark could “blow up” if action isn't taken and reach a level of violence not seen since the 1967 race riots.

“I’m praying it doesn’t happen but we are back where we were back in the '60s,” said Sen. Ronald Rice, D-Newark, during a press conference Monday. “I know, because I was there.”

Rice wants a commission formed to study the causes of violence and what can be done about them in New Jersey. He is calling for a 40-member commission modeled on the 11-member Kerner Commission, which was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson and published its report in 1967. The Kerner Report detailed deeply flawed economic and racial issues in America.

“If you read the report, the same findings of the Kerner Commission in 1967 are applicable to New Jersey today,” Rice said.

Rice urged that more attention be paid to such inner-city issues as laid-off police officers, indifference to violence, prevalence of gangs and a lack of places for youths to go after school.

He said violence in Newark was comparable to rates of violence against American troops in Afghanistan. He said he was worried that when the weather warms up, violence will increase, as it often does.

Crime data recently released for 2012 showed that four cities in the state – Paterson, Camden, Newark and Trenton – were where more than half of New Jersey’s murders occur. Only 7 percent of the state’s population lives in those areas.